are salespeople paid to over sell

[bikeguy joe]

A quick story here- when I was buying my Volusia, a kid (18) called about 10 times wanting to know if his bike was ready yet. After my salesman hung up he said the kid was 18, had no licence and was coming to pick up his.........HAYABUSA!
The kids grandfather signed co-signed the loan, apperently his parents had a small amount of love for their son and wouldn't.
All the salesman cared about was making the sale.

The furniture store where I work is another interesting one, no matter who comes in, no matter what they want, "it's on sale". The only thing is, half the time the salesman sells them a less expensive sofa, for the same "sale price" as the more expensive one they wanted to start with.

[Kaige]

You CAN find decent sales people. They're just hard to find sometimes. The place I bought my bike at was a Honda dealership. They don't get paid on commission. No one told me what to buy, I sat on all the bikes I liked, and they answered all the questions I had on every bike I was interested in, and when I came to a decision they packed up Dixie and here he is

I found people tend to try and push big bikes on guys regardless of their experience and tiny bikes on women regardless of theirs. I was lucky to find a place that didn't seem to do either. I say keep hunting. He just has to keep you happy until you sign on the dotted line. You're stuck with the bike forever.

[chris66]

I was looking at the 05 shadow and wanted to sit on it but the way they had the bikes the salesman had to pull it out I think next time I go back I will try it the look is pretty cool

[ZooTech]

I'm 6'2" and weigh about 320.

the next thing I know he has me on a vulcan meanstreak 1600. I asked him if this might be a bit too much for a first bike and he told me that no matter what I bought I would have to get used to it and it woud serve me a lot longer than the 800 or even a 1100

Despite what all the small bike advocates say, the salesman is right. You're 6'2" and 320lbs...and the Mean Streak is the best handling cruiser on the market, aside from the V-Rod (or so I've read). With your height and weight, the Meanie's weight and ergos should not present any sort of challenge to you, and once you're proficient with it you'll be happy to have a bike that fits you and can haul you around without bouncing off the rev-limiter all the time.

I know this post will be met with a ton of replies about the time someone rode a Rebel 250 up the side of a mountain while doing 125mph, but it's just not true. My dad and I found ourselves on I-75 northbound in the middle of Kentucky at 10:00pm last night. He was riding his C50 (800cc) and I was on my Mean Streak. The semis on this road travel upwards of 90mph, and we were doing eighty. My goal was to keep riding until we got to Lexington, but my dad cut that goal short by about an hour because his bike was struggling to maintain that speed and he was getting spooked by all the trucks whizzing by. My bike was only spinning 3500rpm and had a crapload of throttle left, and the extra 100 or so pounds made it a stable platform for standing up to the semi turbulence.

So, follow the advice of the naysayers if you like, and believe the salesman was just out to win that sales trophy...OR...buy a bike that fits you and will last longer than an 800. After all, you weigh about as much as me plus a female passenger, and I know what that kinda weight feels like on an 800 and on a 1600. Take it from someone who actually knows, rather than someone who speculates.

[chris66]

hey zootech
I replied in the other post I have about rider size in relation to bike weight and I have to admit I was a little concerned about riding a 650 -800 to start off with, not that I know I wouldn be happy with any of the low cc cruisers. its just I dont feel like shelling $5800 - $7000 just to trade it in in a year or 2 and take a huge hit on depeciation. In fact I was seriosly considering the sportster 1200 custom because it holds its value the best. I did fall in love with the meanstreak though its a beautiful bike but I the more I think about it the vstar 1100's seem to be a perfect bike considering the overall package.

[bikeguy joe]

Hey, why not get the Triumph big triple- it should last you a lifetime....

[ZooTech]

Or get a Ninja 250. I hear you can put 100,000 miles on it, dump it 500 times at speed, and sell it for more than you paid!

[bikeguy joe]

...or buy a 1600cc bike with all the high performance you'll rarely use in the first year or two of riding, high insurance rates, high monthly payments high down payments, ect, then when you dump it because it's too much for a newb you'll have a bike with a rediculously low resale value.

[bikeguy joe]

Or get a Ninja 250. I hear you can put 100,000 miles on it, dump it 500 times at speed, and sell it for more than you paid!

A two fitty would be a bit small for a large guy.

[ZooTech]

...or buy a 1600cc bike with all the high performance you'll rarely use in the first year or two of riding

For the folks who plan on avoiding the interstate for those two years maybe.

high insurance rates

Since when is $410 per year considered high?

high monthly payments

Depends on your credit. I pay $200/month.

high down payments

Varies.

then when you dump it because it's too much for a newb you'll have a bike with a rediculously low resale value.

Change "when" to "if" and we might actually come close to an agreement here. Why is everyone so convinced that newbies will dump their first bike? Because YOU did? Way to set yourself up as the benchmark for all riders to strive for...

And, incidentally, my Mean Streak would be way more forgiving than my Dad's 800cc Suzuki C50. I have sportbike wheels, tires, forks, and brakes...and much better balance...and that's what a newbie needs, rather than the weakest and lightest bike he or she can find. Not to mention...how tall are you again? And how much do you weigh? Now imagine having this guy's dimensions and riding the bikes you're recommending. Remember the theme song from Different Strokes? "What might be right for you, may not be right for some!"